Rotary-drum filter



June 29 1926.

A. WRIGHT ET AL ROTARY DRUM FILTER 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Nov. 16

June 29 1926.

A. WRIGHT ET AL ROTARY DRUM FILTER 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 16

June 29 1926. 1,590,401

A. WRIGHT ET AL ROTARY DRUM FI LTER Filed Nov 16, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 67j c?. .36 d; /40 LM. G9 g4 G6 3 .12 GZ Jo JJ Jl abme?? 'Patented June 29, 1926. 1,590,401 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE. i

ARTHUR WRIGHT, F UPPER HONTCLAIR, AND FRANK W. YOUNG, 0F VERONA, NEW

. JERSEY.

ROTARY-DRUM FILTER.

Application filed November 16, 1821. Serial llo. 515,434.

Our invention relates to a rotary drum drum filter having' an improved form of filter. screen or drainage member and having,an It has been found that with our novel improved form of partitions for the sepafilter cake compressor such as described in ration or formation of the various compartour co-pending application, Ser. N o. 499,753, ments. 60 filed Sept. 10, 1921, the use of reversed com- A further object is to accomplish the pressed air is unnecessary in order to disaforementioned ends in a simple and excharge the filter cake, and it is accordingly peditious manner and to provide a filter an object of the present invention to provide which may be easily and economically made.

l0 a filter wherein advantage is taken of the embodying a minimum number of parts so 65 elimination of the reversed compressed air designed as to be readily accessible at all and a simplified form of valve arrangement times for repairs, and at the same time capprovided, which valve arrangement is simple able of performing efficient and satisfactory in construction and positive in operation, as service with a minimum amount of upkeep,

well asecconomical to construct, and is and with the foregoing and other objects in 70 adapted to bring the separate compartments view our invention consists in the improved ofthe filter drum successively into communirotary-drum filter illustrated in the accomcation with a source of low pressure or vacpanying drawings and hereinafter described uum and with the atmosphere. and claimed, and nin such variations and A further object is to provide a rotary modifications thereof as will be obvious to 'f5 drum filter adapted t0 operate without the those skilled in the art to which our invenuse of reversed compressed air and having a tion relates, it being understood that changes light fabric for a filtering medium, so that may be made within the scope of what is a high capacity for each square foot of filter lclaimed Wthout departing from the spirit of surface is obtained. Further, to eliminate the invention. 80

the usual wire winding on the drum, so that In the accompanying drawings: n the filter cloth may be easily renewed. Figure 1 is a view in front elevation and A further object is to provide a rotary partially in section of our improved Iotary drum filter wherein the amount ofexcess undrum filter;

filtered liquid in the tank is reduced to a Figure 2isa detail view in front elevation 55 minimum and the agitation of the same acof a portion of the drainage member for the cordingly increased to a maximum, so that compartments; the filtration of the liquid may be efficiently Figure 3 is a sectional view of the same carried out. taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2;

A further object is to provide a rotary -Figure 4 is a view in end elevation and 90 drum ,filter wherein each compartment is partially in section of our improved filter; provided with two separately controlled out- Figure 5 is a detail view of a somewhat let pipes, so that the filtration taking place modified form of rotary drum; in any compartment may be divided into two Figure 6 is a somewhat further modificaphases or steps and the initial and final filtion of the same; 05

trate handled separately. Figure 7 is a detail view in section of one A fuither object is to provide a rotar of the valves controlling the compartments drum filter wherein each compartment will of the filter drum;

during a single rotation of the drum be sub- Figure 8 is a view in elevation of our imjected to the action of two suction pressures, proved rotary filter having a double set of the initial pressure being applied through outlet pipes and controlling valves communione outlet pipe leading rom the comparteating with each compartment; ment during the time the drum is immersed Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view illusand during which period the filtration is trating the operation of the valves at the takirg place, and to a second and somewhat two ends of the filter drum whereby the inihigher or more intense suction pressure so as tial filtrate may be kept separatefrom the to forcibly draw air through the cake during final filtrate;

the time the particular compartment in ques- Figure 10 is a diagrammatic view illustion is free or above the liquid. y* trating 'the operation of the valves at the two A further obJect 1s to provide a rota-ry ends of the filter dlulu- WhtBIQby the W361i un water may be kept separate from the filtrate or each compartment of the drum may be subjected to a low pressure for filtration and a high vacuum pressure for the air drying of the filter cake.

Referring specifically to the several views, wherein similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout, our improved filter includes the usual tank 15 and in which is partially immersed the rotary drum 16` the same being carried on the hollow shaft 17. The drum is formed with the solid periphery 18 carried onthe usual spokes or spiders 19 which in turn are supported by the shaft 17. The external surface of the drum is formed with a number of filtering compartments 20, as will be more fully hereinafter described, and with each of which compartments communicates an outlet pipe 21. Each outlet pipe 21 carries a two-Way cock or valve 22, and by which term we refer to a valve wherein the fluid which is passing therethrough may be distributed to either of two branches or be entirely shut; off therefrom. Thus the twoway cock or valve may bring each compartment into 'communication with pipes 23, which in turn communicates with a common manifold 24 and the interior of the hollow shaft 17. The hollow shaft is provided with the usual swivel joint (not shown) so that a low pressure or vacuum may be maintained within the hollow shaft and manifold 24 and which during certain phases of rotatlon of the drum will be communicated to the various compartments 20.

The two-way cock or valve 22 as disclosed in Fig. 7 is adapted to bring the outlet pipe 21 of the compartment into communication with the low pressure or vacuum pipe 23, or upon the turning or partial turning of the valve lever 25 to bring the outlet pipe 21 of the compartment into communication with the atmosphere through the valve opening 26. In order to automatically control the position of the valves, each handle 25 is formed L-shape and is adapted to contact with and be turned by suitable stationary cams or abutment blocks 27. These stationary cams are carried b v the slotted frames 28, whereby they may be adjusted so as to properly time the opening and closing of the valves. Referring particularly to Figure 4, the cam marked A is about to turn the lever of the particular valve marked B2, so that the compartment C will be brought into communication with the manifold 24 through the pipes 21 and 23 and a filter cake will be deposited on the filtering medium. After the compartment C has passed above the level of the liquid and out of the tank, air will be drawn through the filter cake forthe drying thereof, uwhich action will take place until the cam D is reached, whereupon thenvalve will be turned into its second position and the compartment C brought into communication with the atmosphere and which allows the filter cake to be readily stripped from the filtering medium.

As previously mentioned, our improved filter drum is particularl adapted for use in connection with our fi ter cake compressor, a portion o f the compressor belt being shown at F in Figure 4, although the details of the compressor have been omitted.

The provision of individual Valves controlling each compartment not only materially simplifies the filter construction, but renders each valve readily accessible for repai.' or renewal, and. further, allows for the adjustment of the relative portion of a revolution during which the valve is in its various positions, so that, for example, the valves may be timed so as to release the vacuum and open the compartments to the atmosphere prior to the time the endless belt of the compresser is led away from the drum so that the cake will accompany the compressor belt, or it may be timed so as to maintain the vacuum on the compartment until after the compressor belt has been led away from the rotary drum, and in which case the cake will .not accompany the compressor belt. The ends of the drum are closed by the platesf 29, so that there will be a minimum amount of unfiltered liquid within the tank 15 and there will accordingly be a maximum amount of agitation of this liquid, and which agitation it has been found materially increases and facilitates the filtration action.

In some instances we have found it dcsirable to provide each end of the drum with separate and distinct outlet pipes and controlling valves such as illustrated in the filter drum shown in Fig. 8. and referring particularly to this figure, the shaft 30 is provided with the hollow ends 31, each communicating with a separate source of low pressure or vacuum through suitable swivel joints (not shown) and which hollow ends communicate with the manifold 32 and manifold 33. Leading into the manifold 32 are Ithe inlet pipes 34 controlled by thc straight-way cock or valve 35 which in turn communicates with the outlet pipe 36 of the compartments 37. At the opposite end of the filter drum are the inlet pipes 38 com municating witl'rthe manifold 33 and coutrolled by the two-way cocks 39 which are similar to the valve illustrated in Fig. 7 and communicating with which valves are the compartment outlet pipes 40, the same communicating with the same compartments as the outlet pipes 36, so that leading from each compartment 37 are two outlet pipes 36 and 40, in turn controlled by the straight'way cock or valve 35 and the two-way cock 39. Suitable cams are provided for controlling llO ' valve tions 90 apartganda another bring the A v ferrinf l senta h than be brought into a neutral lthe 11ML',- corresponding to line L'fof Lesoto:

the said valves and are similar t o the cams A and D Shown in Figure 4 withtlie exco fon that the cams for controlling the va ve 39 are adaptedto move the valve into three 'tions, the three positions 'of the in attained by impingcment of the handle erect upon 'three cams thatmay be 'notably fixed cams like those shown in Two'of these 'cams act respectively to rngothe valve shownin Fig. into pooithiid cam is adjusted to give the valve a partial turn andeet it in a position half way between the positions determined b the other two cams and thus close the va ve against all flow. Of the three positions into which the valve is brought, one bringe the compartment 87 into communication with the manifold 33, compartment 3T into communication with the atmoe here, and the third closes theppe 40 to a fluid communication.

With btlaie filtezarum as trlilis constructpd, it may opera in seva ways', asi,4 or exam le, when it iedesired to keep the initial ltrate separate from the final filtrate,I

Ydue tothe tendency of the initial filtrate to contain considerable solids, caused by the clean condition of the filter cloth.' as it-en tera the li uors, the valves are operated as shownin t.V valve dia aina, Fig. 9. Reto the' vulve 'agrame, Hf repree action of the straight-way vulve 35- and diagram'G the operation of the two-way cock 39. The circle I represents the path of travelo! a compartment or valve, and the line K the top surface of the liquid to be filtered. By a suitable cam arran ement similar to that previously deecri the valve is.. opened at the line marked L and closed at the line marked M, the ninoraro L--M re reeeuting the riod during 'which the initial filtration ta es place through the valve 35, and the major are M--L represents the period during which the valve 35 isclosed.' The operation of the two-way coi-.L89 at the' opposite end of the drum, ne shown in diagram G, is as jfollowe:

A suitable cam (not shown' opens the two-way valve so as to bring t e compartment into communication with the source ofilow pressure within thedrum at theY line M. corresponding in position to the line M of the diagram H. The vulve 'remainsd auch position until it reaches the line N and during` which 'time the final filtration and drying of the cake takes place. At the line N the valve is moved by a suitable cam (not shown causing the particular compartment in question to be brought into communieation with the atmoepher'e, eo that the filter cake may be .readily stripped from the filtering medium. The two-way cock 39 will pooitionuat the previous diagrani, so that the initial filtrate will pass to the manifold' 32 and thc final filtrate to the manifold 33.

It is obvious that we may operate .our filter drumhaving separately controlled outlet pipes for each` ways, and a second example is. shown in Fi ure 10, wherein it is desiredy to either han e the wash water separate] or to subject each compartment to two di arent intensities of vacuum, that is to say,v a low vacuum during the time the compartment is immersedl in the liquid and filtration is taking lace, and a second or more intense or hig r vacuum I after the compartment has passed above the liquid and dryiugiiris being drawn through the filter cake. ith this in view, the valves are operated as per the valve diagrams illustrate in Figure 10, the valvediagram O showing the operation of the sinle-wa valve 35 and 'arranged to o at the ine L nud oloiiel at the line M uring which time the filtration of the iq takes place; The valve diagram P s ho the operation of the twoway valve' veach valve oguing to the vacuum manifold 33 at the e M", bringing the compartments into communicetion with the atmosphere at the line N and closing toa neutral position at the line L, so that durin the period a compartment passes from L and L' to M" and M" the straightway cock or valve 35 is open and the valve 39 in neutral or closed position. During i from the line M" and M'" to N', the straight-way valve 35 is closed and the twoway cock V39 is open to amore intense or higher vacuum than that controlled by the valve 35, so that drying air will be forcibly drawn therethroulailor the wash water may behandled saper v from the filtrate. ,At N the two-way cok opens to the atmos- Y here, allowing the filter cake to be stripped rom the filterin medium', the stra'iilit-way cock remaining c oecd until the-line and L" is again reached, whereupon the cycle is repeated.

- ordinaryy filter drum is provided with drainage membersrformed of wood in the various compartmentsl and which am a con; etant source o! trouble` as well as ex naive the time the compartment rol-.etes

inpertment in other xiii to produce. .We have therefore provi ed our improved filter drum with what we term the spiral wire drainage member 45, as illustrated in detail in Fi urea 1, 2 and 8. This spiral wire is provid with the slid partitions 48. preferably formed of rubber, soft lead. bakellte, or similar substancea, and ,which when drawn tight'upon the periphery of the drum' forms an air seal therefor and so divides the drum into the filter compareV ments with which the outlet pipes previously mentioned communicate. The filter olother filtering 47 is then wrapped around tli'eepirel drainage members and the longil drum is accordingly be maintained between tudinally extending partition members 46 and bound in place by the binding wiresvtB which extend into the I:ii-eaves 49 provided therefor at the ends of e filter drum. The elimination of the reversed compressed air ns heretofore used and as previously explained, prevents the outward bulging of the filter cloth 47, so that the use 0f binding wires other than at the ends of the unnecessary. Particular attention is called to the ve eicient form of the drainage member which is produced by making thc same, of what is termed spiral wire. By referring to Figure 2 it will be apparent that the spiral wire forms longitudinally extending ducts due to ,the angularity of the spirals of the wire, and also transversely extending ducts, as illustrated in Figure 2. Furthermore, the spiral wire has the loops of the spiral intertwined so as to forma complete and integral drainazemember, and while we have disclosed the spiral or looped wire drainage member 'ae being provided with solid partitions 46 embedded therein. it will be readily appreciated that the drum muy be provided with either wood or iron partitions or spacers and the spiral or looped intertwined wire drainage member used in connection therewith. Furthermore, the word spiral is used in its popular sense and refers to a winding, similar to a screw thread.

The modied form of drum illustrated in re `l5 is provided with a single rib or flange 50 at each end of the drum and against which the spiral wire draina membgls and the axially extending partitions 46 a t.

A further modified form of filtered drum is illustrated in Figure 6, and in this particular type we form the drum itself with a smooth cylindrical surface and provide the spiral wire drainagemember 45 with axially extending partitions 46 and circumferentially extending stripe 51 at the edges of the vspiral wire drainage member, which partitions and strips are formed in the same manner as the axially extendingpartitions 48', the details of which are Vmore clearly illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings. The fact that each compartment is suhjected to a high vacuum and at no time suh- )'erted4 to the action of compressed air, prevents any danger or likelihood of the filter cloth or drainage member sagging outwardlv. and also insures that a proper seal will cach compartment and between the com artments and the ez:` ternal air. The spiral-)wire which forms the drainage member may be readily procured in the open market, and, varying in size as well asin mesh, provides for a considerable range of depth for each compartment, depending upon the liquid or filtrate to be handled.

Having thus described our invention, we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

l. A rotary filter com rising a. drum having a plurali of fi tering compartments and an ou et pipe communicating withu each com artment and with a common manifold in w 'ch a low pressure is adapted to be maintained, and a two-way cock located m cach outlet pipe and adapted to bring the compartments into communication with the common manifold and into communication with the atmosphere, and means for operating saidcocks.

rotary drum filter having filtering compartments, outlet pipes communicating with each compartment, a two-wav cock carried by each outlet pipe, a manifold or receiver communicating with said two-way cocks, said two-way cocks adapted to bring said compartment into communication wit said manifold and into communication with the atmosphere, and adjustable means for controlling the position of (he cocks as the drum filter is rotated.

3. An apparatus of the class described including n rotary drum having a pluralityr of filtering compartments thereon, outlet communicating with. each compartment, a receiver or manifold communicating with said outlet pipes, a two-way cock located in each outlet pipe and adapted to bring the compartments into communicationwith thc said receiver and to bring th into communication with the atmosphe ndjustably mounted stationary cams loca in the path of travel of said cocks and adapted to operate the same to control the position thereof as the said drum and cocks are rotated.

4. A rotary drum filter having a plurality of comlpartments on the drum, a receiver or manio d .carried by said drum, outlet pipes communicetin with each compartment and with the said manifold, a two-way cock located' within said pipes adapted to bring the compartments into communication with said manifold and to close the compartments to the manifold and open them to the atmosphere, handles carried by said cocks, and adjustable stationary memhers ositioned in the path of travel of said hand es and adapted to control the position of said cocks during the rotation of said filter drum.

5. A rotary drum filter including aV lurality of filtering compartments, a ho ow shaft supporting the filter drum, outlet pipes communicatin with each compartment and with the ollow shaft, valves located in each pipe and adapted to brin said compartments into communication wit said hollow shaft and to close said compartments to said hollow shaft and to bring them into communication with the atmose compartments A phare, and adjustable means arran 'ed in the path of travel of said Yvalves an adapted to control -the positiontheof as the valves and com ai'tments are revolved I `6. A tration apparatus comprising a rotary drum having filtering compartments thereon, a eating with said compartments and with said receiver, valves located in said outlet 10 pi means for opening and closing said va ves as saiddrum isfrotated, a'second re- A ceiver, `a second set of outlet pipes communicatin with said second receiver and with the sai compartmen and valves located in said Second set of ou let pipes adapted to bring said compartments into communica tion with said second receiver, into communication withthe atmosphere, and to close said second outlet pipes to both the second receiver and the atmosphere, and means for operating said valves 1n the second set of outlet pllpes as saiddrnm is rotated.

7. A tration. apparatus including a ro-V tary drum having tlteri compartments u thereon, a receiver or mani old, outlet pipes communicating with each compartment and with said manifold, vcocks located in` said outlet pipes, a second receiver or manifold,

a second setA of outlet pipes communicat- 3- ing with said second manifold and with said compartments, two-way cocks located in said second set of outlet pipes adapted to bring said compartments into communication with seid seco receiver, adapted to bring said compartments into communication with the atmosphere, and adapted to close said compartments to both the second receiver and the atmosphere and means for controlling the position oi said cocks of the outlet pipes.

8. A filtration apparatus including a ro' tary drum haylng .flterin compartments thereon, a receiver or'mani old, outlet pipes communicating with each compartment and with said manifold, cocks located in said outlet pipes, a second receiver or manifdld, a second set of outlet ipes communicatin with said second manifold and with sai w compartments, two-way cocks located in said second setjof outlet pipes adapted to brin said compartments into communication wit said second receiver, adapted to brin said compartments into communication wi h the atmosphere, and ada ted to close said cour partments to both t e second receiver and Lthe atmosphere and adjustable means located ln the path of travel of said cocks and adapted to control the .o cocks are revolved wi drum 'tion thereof as the the rotation of the 9. A filtration apparatus comprising a rotary drum having compartments thereon, two sets of outlet pipes communicating with i cach compartment, and means carried by said outlet pipes adapted to expose the lnreceiver, outlet pipes communi# `source of low terior of the compartments to a vacuum during the time the compartment is immersed in the liquid to be filters to a second and more intense vacuum when t e compartment is located above the liquid for' the d ing of the caire, s nd to the atmosphere to ow for the stripping of the cake from the filtering medium ofthe compartment.

10. A filtration apparatus comprising a rotary drum having compartments thereon,two setsV of outlet pipes communicatin with each compartment, and means carried by said outlet pipe adapted to expose the compartments to a source interior of the of low pressure during the initial immersion of the compartment in a liquid, to a second pressureduring the remaining portion of the time the compartment is, immersed in the liquid, so as to thus separate the initial and final filtrates and to expose the; interior of the compartment to atmospheric pressure to allow for the stripping ofthe cake.

11. An apparatus of the lass'described includinpi' a drum, a spiral wire drainage member coated' upon said drum, and partition `members extending longitudinally of bsaid drum and dividing the sa'me into compartments, and n. filter medium contacting with said partition members and held away from said drumhy said spiral wire drainage member.

12. An apparatus of. the class described comprising a drum, a drainage member formed of intertwined, looped wire located 1 upon said drum, partition members upon said drum, a lilter medium cooperating with said partition me bers and vsaid drainage member and forming a plurality of filtering compartments.

13. A drainage member for filtering com pertinents comprising wire woven mto spiral intertwined formation, `adapted to hold the filtering cloth away from the drum of the filter and. provide for the drainage of llo the filtered liquid therethrough. 14. .A drninageand compartment forming member for the drur'n of rotary filters com, prising wire woven into locp or spiral formation and intertwined with adlacent sp1- 115 rais or loops and adapted to encompass thc drum, said looped or spiral wire provided with partition members.

I5. A drainage or compartment forming member for the drum of rotary filters coni- 120 prisinlg' connected spiral or looped wire members. the same being adapted to encomnass the drum, lon itudinally extending partition members em ding the loops or splrals of said wire therein, and transversely 125 disposed members extending alon the edges of the apiraledwire and joining e longitudinal members, said longitudinal and trans verse members adapted to contact with the surface of the drum and, in conjunction |30 with the lter cloth and the spiral wire and ing a wire structure characterized by transtbe sux-fece of the drum, to form filtering versely -and longitudinally extending ducts` compartments. Signed at New Yol-4 `bor0u h of Manhunt, l0 16. A drainage member for lters com; tan, in the county of ew Yrk and State 5 prising wire bent into looped or spiral forof New York this 14th day of November, A.

mation and intertwined with theloops or D. 1921. spiral of adjacent wire and thereby form- ARTHUR WRIGHT.

with the filter cloth and the spiral wire and ing a wire structure characterized by transi the surface of the drum, to form filtering versely and longitudinally extending ducts.

com artments. 4 Signed at New York,` borough of Mnnhnl;` l0 161.).'1 drainage member for filters comtan, in the county of New York andv State 5 prising Wire bent into looped or spiral forof New York this 14th day of November, A.

mation and intertwined with the loo s or D. 1921. yspirals of adjacent wire and thereby orm- ARTHUR WRIGHT.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

' yPatent No. 1,590,401. Granted June 29, 19%, to

ARTHUR WRIGHT and FRANK W. YOUNG.

It is hereby certified that the signature oi the second mentioned patentee in the above numbered patent, "Frank W. Young", should appear at' the wend vof the specification, under the signature of Arthur Wright; andythatthe sa/i Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to tbe record of the case in the Patent Office.

signed and sealed' this 71h day of July, A. b. 1931.

y M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

I Patent No. 1,590,401. Granted June 29, 1926, to

ARTHUR WRIGHT and FRANK. W. YOUNG.

It is hereby certified that the signature of the second mentioned patentee in the above numbered patent, "Frank W. Young", should appear at the end of the specification, under the signature of Arthur Wright; and thatvthe said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of July, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

